GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD must defeat Great Western today at Glenthompson Recreation Reserve in round 11 of the Mininera and District Football League or face dropping out of the top five with only five rounds remaining in the season.

All teams return to the field today after enjoying the week off for the school holiday bye, and unless players are carrying long term injuries, they should all be at near full strength.

 The Rams occupy that fifth rung on the ladder one above the Penshurst side that is equal on points but just below on percentage, while Great Western is a game behind in seventh.

The two teams enter the match in vastly different form after Glenthompson-Dunkeld was on the end of tough defeat at the hands of second placed Wickliffe-Lake Bolac away from home, while Great Western had a virtual training run against Moyston-Willaura as the Lions won by 146 points.

Despite enjoying such a huge victory, the Lions must be concerned that they kicked more behinds than goals for the match in a wasted opportunity to boost their percentage by even more against the Pumas.

The Rams may be without Matt Lowe who injured his knee against Wickliffe-Lake Bolac and would have to pass a fitness test to take his spot in the team.

Jack Oswald, Donald Collins, Sam McConachy, Thomas Waters, Calvin Ross and Mitchell Johnson all battled hard against the Magpies and will be looking to bring their good form into this match while Ryan Folkes, Andrew Cameron, Lee Marshall, Adam Mullane, Harvey Evans and Samuel Cocks are in equally fine form for the Lions.

Other games

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR is still an outside chance of reaching the finals, but the Eagles must win every match remaining in the home and away season to do so.

The club hosts SMW Rovers today at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve this afternoon and despite losing in round 10 to Ararat, must have the belief that the side can get over the top of the Bulldogs.

SMW Rovers had a 75-point win against Caramut in the last game before the break and will come into this match quietly confident that it can get the job done and stop the Eagles charge to the top five before it starts.

PENSHURST caused the upset of the season when it defeated the previously undefeated Tatyoon in round 10 and the Bombers will take that sensational form into their game with Moyston-Willaura today at Moyston Recreation Reserve.

Penshurst celebrated its First Nations culture on the same day as the Tatyoon game and the celebration couldn’t have been timed any better as the Bombers swept to a 29-point victory with Aaron Glare, Henry Bensch, Jacob Mibus, Izaac Ewing, Kieran Neeson and  Jayden Watson leading the way for the home side.

With no disrespect to the Pumas, this match is a chance for the Bombers to improve their percentage markedly and the forwards must have their kicking boots on and kick straight.

TATYOON will be seeking to find the form it displayed before round 10 when the side swept aside all comers to be undefeated as it hosts Lismore-Derrinallum today at Tatyoon Recreation Reserve.

The Demons will make the road trip knowing that the Hawks can be beaten and will be looking to replicate the game plan of Penshurst who knocked off the Hawks before the bye, as another loss for the home side will see it fall from the top rung of the ladder.

WICKLIFFE-LAKE BOLAC travels to Caramut recreation Reserve knowing that victory against Caramut may well see it gain the ladder lead if Tatyoon should happen to drop its game.

ARARAT sits in fourth spot on the ladder and will host third placed Woorndoo-Mortlake at Alexandra Oval today in possibly the match of the round.

The Eagles would dearly love to knock off the Tigers and claim the next rung on the ladder currently occupied by Woorndoo-Mortlake, and a good victory against Hawkesdale-Macarthur in round 10 has them in form to claim victory.

The Tigers must kick straighter than they did in their last outing, when they scored 4.14 against Lismore-Derrinallum and still won but against the Eagles that wont be enough to claim the points.